Lake George neighbors hoping to keep Tech's vibrancy

Tech High neighbors say the school is important to area's vitality, and they want it to stay.

A bicyclist rides by the steps facing Lake George on Aug. 6 at Technical High School. Lake George Neighborhood residents say Tech is key to the area’s identity.(Photo: Jason Wachter, jwachter@stcloudtimes.com)

Story Highlights

Neighborhood residents hope Tech can be renovated like other older buildings in the area

Students add energy to the neighborhood and school is the heart of community, residents say

When Phil Rogosheske was growing up, he used to ride his bike to Technical High School because he lived about a mile away. Some of his fondest memories involve games at Clark Field.

Tim Hellwig would walk to school and back home just about every day for lunch. In the winter, he would run home to grab his skates then play hockey on Lake George.

Those are experiences that many Lake George Neighborhood residents share. And they are hoping that lifestyle won't go away as Tech faces an uncertain future.

"If we lose the school, we lose the neighborhood," resident Peter Fandel said.

The St. Cloud school district is considering whether to renovate the century-old Tech High School or build a new school.

A number of residents who live in the Lake George Neighborhood say they are concerned about what closing the school would mean for their neighborhood.

Heart of a community

The school's connection to Eastman Park and Lake George and its proximity to downtown create what residents say is a vibrant community.

Every year, Suzanne Rodell looks forward to the fall when students return to school. The school is a link between the area's past and its future, she said.

Roxanne Ryan said the school is an anchor for the neighborhood. Students can easily walk home after school or take Metro Bus to wherever they need to go.

Neighbors and students say hello to each other and get to know one another, residents say.

Resident Jill Wahman said Tech is the heartbeat of the neighborhood, and its pulses goes out to the entire community.

Students can walk or bike from school to go downtown, to St. Cloud Public Library, to classes at St. Cloud State University or to visit nearby parks.

"You don't have to have wheels to live in this area," resident Joyce Wittenhagen said. "It's very walkable."

The neighborhood has tried to attract more young families, and Tech is an important part of that attraction, Jack Wahman said. Ryan said the proximity to Tech High School was a huge selling point when she bought her home in the 1990s.

Val Rogosheske said she enjoys seeing students run around Lake George and have sports practice in the park.

Few towns have a central park where such activities can take place.

"I like the presence of that age group," she said.

Many questions remain about what would happen to the building if the school relocates.

There have been discussions about it turning into senior housing or some other development.

What's at stake

Residents say a certain vibrancy will be missing if it is no longer a school.

"If Tech High School becomes anything but a school, it will be the sudden, irrecoverable decline of the neighborhood," Fandel said.

Lake George Neighborhood residents only need to look across Ninth Avenue South to see what can happen with zoning changes and the loss of neighborhood schools.

Portions of the Southside University Neighborhood were rezoned to allow lodging houses, and schools closed.

Fandel said that drove out families and led to the issues he said the neighborhood now faces with bad landlords and destruction of historical homes.

"I'm not sure we can ever reclaim it," he said.

Many neighbors advocate for the school district to renovate the building.

It's easy to find examples of old buildings getting new life within the community, such as the Paramount Theatre and the Riverview building at St. Cloud State University.

St. Cloud has a history of tearing down historic buildings, and residents say it would be sad to see Tech meet the same fate.

"St. Cloud tends to forget its history," said Hellwig, who grew up near Tech and now lives in Indiana.

Residents want to see a list of what the issues are at Tech and what it would cost to address those in the current building.

While it might cost a lot to stay in the current building, residents say what is gained is worth more.